Clamp



A. L. COCHRANE.

CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAAR. Il, 1920.

1,364,613. Patented @11.421921v UNITED STATES ARTHUR LEWIS COCHRANE, OFTORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

CLAMP.

Application led March 11, 1920.

To @ZZ wlw-m t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. COCHRANE, of the city of Toronto, in thecounty of York, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Clamps, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to devices for fastening ropes, ties, laces andthe like, and my object is to devise a clamp which is of simpleconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture, easily and quickly engaged andreleased, and which will hold the end of a lace in a bow if desired.

I attain my object by means of the constructions hereinafter describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure' l is aplan view of my improved clamp in its simplest form;

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of the same;

Iiig. 3 a plan view of an elaborated form; anc

Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of my clamp.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding partsin the different figures.

Referring particularly to Figs. l and 2, l is the body member,preferably formed of sheet metal and having a forwardly extending tongue2. To the body member is pivotally connected the clamping member 3formed as an open quadrangular frame, its outer end being shaped andadapted to cooperate with the outer end of the tongue to form clampingmeans as will be understood particularly on reference to Fig. 2. Gneside of the frame may be omitted as shown in Fig. 5. To form bearingsfor this clamp member I stamp up from the body member hook lugs 4 withwhich the inner end 5 of the clamp member 3 is engaged.

Integral with the body member is formed a spring plate 6. In the formshown in Fig. l, this plate is formed by stamping up a tongue from themetal of the body member. In the form shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, thespring plate l is formed by bending the body member upon itself at theouter end of the tongue 2. The inner end 5 of the clamp member isprovided with a flat so that when the spring is engaged with this fiatas shown in the drawings, the spring tends to hold the outer end of thetongue 2. This Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 4, 1921.

serial No. 365,023.

prevents any possibility of a lace or tie becoming loosened whensubjected alternately to tension and release from tension. I prefer alsoto form a second 'flat on the inner end 5 of the clamp member adapted tobe engaged by the spring to yieldingly hold the clamp member with itsouter end in a convenient position when the lace or tie is to beinserted in the device, or withdrawn fromthe same.

The upper ends of the hook lugs 4 are preferably bent outwardly toprovide finger pieces which may be gripped when it is desired to liftthe body member of the buckle when disengaging a tie therefrom. When thedevice is being used as a fastener for shoe laces and the like it isdesirable that the end of the lace shall be held in a bow-like form. Forthis purpose I provide a loop behind the bearings of the clamp member,which loop is preferably formed by means of one or more inwardly bentlugs 7 stamped up from the body member 1. In Fig. 5 the loop is formedof a simple lug and hence is open at one side so that a tie may be drawninto it from the side. As the clamp member is also open at one side itis evident that with the construction shown in this figure of thedrawings the tie may be engaged with the clamp without any threadingmovements being necessary. The spring 6 may be extended to pass underthis loop, or the clip itself may form a spring (see Fig. 5), hence ifthe lace be drawnthrough or caught beneath the loop as indicated inFigs. 4 and 5, it will be securely and neatly held. The use of this loopalso adds additional security to the fastening as the lace may be heldtaut between the point at which it is gripped by the tongue 2 and theouter end of the clamp member, and the point of engagement by the springand the loop 7, or spring loop.

,In Figs. 3 and 4 I show an extra set 8 of bearing lugs, which enablesthe clamping member to be adjusted to enable it to be used with flexibletie members of different thicknesses.

What I claim as my invention is l. A clamp comprising a body memberformed with a forwardly extending tongue; a clamp member formed as anopen quadrangular frame pivotally connected by its inner end to the bodymember and having its outer end adapted to coperate with the outer endof the tongue to form clamping means; and a spring plate integral withthe body member engaging the inner end of the clamp member, the latterhaving a flat thereon engageable by the spring, whereby the latter tendsto hold the clamp member in clamping position.

2. A clamp constructed as set forth in claim l having` a second flat onthe inner end of the clamp member engageable by the spring to tend tohold the clamp member somewhat below its cooperative position relativeto the body member.

3. A clamp constructed as set forth in claim l provided behind thepivotal connection of the clamp member with a loop with which the springcooperates and under which the rope or lace with which the de- -vice isused may be drawn after passing` beof resilient sheet metal havingl anintegral' part thereof behind the pivotal connections of the clampmember extending up and then inwardly to form a loop with which thespring cooperates and under which the rope or lace with which the deviceis used may be drawn after passing between the clamping means.

5. A clamp comprising a body member formed with a forwardly extendingtongue; a clamp member formed as an open quadiangular 'frame pivotallyconnected by its inner end to the body member and having its outer endadapted to cooperate with the outer end of the tongue to form clampingmeans; and a loop member, behind the pivotal connections of the clampmember,

through which the rope or lace with which he device is used may be drawnafter passing` between the clamping means.

6. A clamp comprising' a body member `formed of sheet metal formed witha forwardly extending tongue and turned-up hook lugs forming bearings; aclamp member formed as an open quadrangular frame having its inner endpivoted in said bearings and having` its outer end adapted to coperatewith the outer end of the tongue to iorm clamping means; and a springplate integral Vith the body member engaging the inner end oi the clampmember, the latter having a flat thereon engageable by the spring,whereby the latter tends to hold the clamp member in clamping position.

7. A clamp comprising' a body member formed of sheet metal formed with aforwardly extending' tongue and turned-up hook lugs forming' bearings; aclamp member formed as an open quadrangular frame having` its inner endpivoted in said bearings and having' its outer end adapted to cooperatewith the outer end of the tongue to Jform clamping' means; integral lugson the plate behind the bearings then inwardly to ward one another toform a loop; and a spring integral with the plate extending through saidloop.

8. A clamp constructed as set forth in claim 9 in which the inner end ofthe frame has a ilat thereon engageable by the spring, whereby thelatter tends to hold the clamp member in clamping` position.

Signed at rlloronto this 28th day of February7 1920.

ARTHUR LEl/VIS COCHRANE

